The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-04-09
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
Historical and Statistical Facts Relating to
Chicago's Marvellous Growth.

"Born, mt Vandalia, ILL.,, Saturday,
March A, 1887, the City of Chicago
Historic words are these. The birth OF
a city but half a century ago, having at
the time of incorporation but 1000 in.
habitants. This year that babe records
her liftieth anniversary as city with
population of 100000 people. Enter
prise and thrift were her parents, nat
ural resources her succor, and she was
clothed by the indomitable will and
perseverance, of honest hearts, strong
hands, and clear heads, and situation
unsurpassed. What history is this!
A city born out of swamp lands and
odorous wild-onion beds. Grown to be
mighty metropolis in thirty-four short
years, destroyed almost in day by a
demon of fire, and within period OF
another sixteen years entirely rebuilt
with grandeur and stability almost
beyond the comprehension of those not
familiar with the city's history.
August 10, 1888, the young village OF
Chicago was incorporated as town.
The event was talked of with pride by
the few hardy settlers living in the
vicinity, for then the willy savage built
his wigwam unmolested within a
stones throw of every inhabitable
building in the fort, and the adventur-
Gus settler, amid continued hardships,
cultivated a small portion Of the fertile
prairies far away from the everyday
comforts of civilization, and tilling II
soil which he called his own only by
virtue of 'squatter's claim" Tho
county of Cook, named in honor of the
Hon. Daniel p. Cook, had been por-
toned off from Peoria county but two
years before-in 1S31-when the village
of Chicago was incorporated into a
town by an almost unanimous vote, Il
voting in favor and l against the
change. The following year-lS34-tEe
poll-list had but III names registered us
voting, and the total tax receipts
amounting to but $48. 80, sum INSULT
cient to meet current expenditures and
pecessitating loan of $50 for street
improvements. Gradually the tide of
emigration drifted westward, and many
stopped at that point, coming by boat
or horseback around the lake by way
of Detroit and along the lake shore,
New buildings sprang up like mush-
rooms to accommodate the newcomers,
and by 1886 luXuries as well us the
necessities of life were among the i'm.
ports of the merchants" doing bust
ness here. The uncertainty of title
to lands vested in the Government by
the Indians caused urgent appeals tc
be made for relief, and in July, 1886
the first sale of canal lands was held
here and the titles given by the cana
trustees topurchasers.
From this time an unhealthy perioC
of speculation began; values were very
unsteady and varied greatly from weel
to week, resulting in a financial crasl
the following year. A branch of tn,
Second State Bank, the first to do
general banking business, was located
here in 1886, and went down with tn,
rest in the eventful year of 81. Oh
November IS. 1886, the board of trus
tees for the 'town" of Chicago held
meeting and ordered "that the presi
dent invite the citizens of each of tn
three districts (north, south and west
of the town to meet in their respectiv
districts and select three suitable per
sons to meet with the board of trustee
on Thursday evening next and consul
together with them on the eXpedienc
of applying to the Legislature of tn
State for city charter and adopting
draft to accompany such application.
All the provisions of a city wer
finally agreed upon and the board O
town trustees sent messenger b.
the stage-coach with it to Vandalia
z about seventy-live miles below Spring
field, where the Legislature was in se'
5 sion. The act of the incorporation c
the city was approved March 4, 1887.
{ The first census taken after the incol
j pOration was July /. 1887, and showed
J total population of 4, 179, divided as TO
/, lows: